It’s a Great Day
Date: 1955
Director: John Warrington
Production Company: Grove Films
Stars: Ruth Dunning, Edward Evans, Sid James, Vera Day, Sheila Sweet, Peter Bryant
Location(s): London, Middlesex, Surrey
Region(s): London H-L, South East E-L
Storyline:
A builder recruits a dubious character to help him finish a job on a new housing estate before the official opening.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
This film is based on 'The Grove Family', a BBC television soap opera that is generally regarded to be the first of its kind broadcast in Britain. The style of the brickwork makes this likely to be one of the viaducts on the District Line between Ravenscourt Park and Stamford Brook, west of the former Studland Road Junction.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
The camera tilts and pans to settle on the railway arch where Bob Grove speaks with his son Jack.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
Bob Grove (Edward Evans) goes to see car dealer Harry Mason (Sid James) in the hope of renting a car. Shepperton Studios in Surrey with the tower of St. Mary Magdalene Church on Squire’s Bridge Road just visible to the right of centre top.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Jack Grove (Peter Bryant) and his Father leave Mrs. Jenks' boarding house with Blondie (Vera Day) as they set out to look for Lennie and Daphne.
- Capture 5
- 06 Jan 2022
Lennie (Christopher Beeny) and Daphne Grove (Margaret Downs) run through the near complete housing estate. Ian Gasson recognised Whiteleys Way on Butt's Farm Estate in Hanworth, Middlesex which was under construction at the time of filming.
Tim Wingham visited the same location to reveal the maturity of the development since building was in progress. (RL)
- Capture 6
- 06 Jan 2022
The children settle on a good place to watch the opening ceremony. The bend on Whiteleys Way, Butt's Farm Estate in Hanworth identified by Ian Gasson.
Tim confirms the location with this comparative shot showing the passage of some 66years. (RL)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Daphne watches as Lennie climbs to the top of some scaffolding. Built in the 1950s to help ease the post war housing crisis, Butt's Farm Estate has since seen many properties demolished and replaced, which makes identification of individual roads difficult.
- Capture 8
- 06 Jan 2022
Lennie surveys the estate before realising that he can't get down. Ian Gasson explains that this is looking north-west from Great Chertsey Road in Hanworth, Middlesex along Water Mill Way with the still extant Gardner House, Exeter House and Garfield House in the left distant and the since demolished Baxden House, Water Mill House and Evans House to the right.
In providing this shot for us he comments, "Usefully a footbridge exists over the A316 that is almost exactly in line with the original shot's location, that was the roof of Whiteley's House showing the surviving house that is part of Saxon Avenue. Water Mill Way, to the right, runs away to the distance showing examples of the housing that replaced Baxden House, Water Mill House and Evans House". (RL)
- Capture 9
- 10 Jan 2022
Jack, Blondie and Bob enter the estate. Facing south-west along Whiteleys Way on Butt's Farm Estate in Hanworth with Butts Crescent in the background found by Ian Gasson.
Tim replaces his shot in B&W, remarking that "the entire Butts Farm estate on the south eastern side of the A316 is incredibly well preserved. Virtually untouched since it was built. A rare thing". It is good to see such a positive consequence of time to our rationale, it is so often one of loss or destruction. The customary Reelstreets obstacle course of parked cars required Tim to stand slightly to the left of the correct spot. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Daphne leads the adults to where Lennie is stuck at the top of the scaffolding. Butt's Farm Estate in Hanworth located by Ian Gasson.